 |
|
Factors Associated With the Intent of Firearm-Related Injuries in Pediatric Trauma Patients
Guohua Li, MD, DrPH;
Susan P. Baker, MPH;
Carla DiScala, PhD;
Carolyn Fowler, PhD;
Jean Ling, MD;
Gabor D. Kelen, MD
Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 1996;150(11):1160-1165.
Abstract
Objective
To examine the characteristics of unintentional and assaultive firearm-related pediatric injuries treated in trauma centers.
Design
Comparative analysis of patients 14 years or younger who were admitted to the trauma centers because of unintentional firearm-related injuries (n=292) vs assaultive firearm-related injuries (n=457).
Setting
Sixty-eight trauma centers or children's hospitals in the continental United States and Canada that reported data to the National Pediatric Trauma Registry from January 1, 1990, through December 31, 1994.
Main Outcome Measures
Frequency distributions of firearm-related injuries in relation to intent and injury circumstances, odds ratios (ORs) on the intent of injury being assaultive, injury severity scales, and in-hospital fatality rates.
Results
The frequency of unintentional firearm-related injuries rose in the afternoons peaking between 4 and 5 PM; they predominantly occurred at home (89%). Assaultive firearm-related injuries peaked sharply between 8 and 9 pm and usually occurred on roads or in other public places (63%). About 3 times as many boys as girls were harmed in firearm-related injuries. Given a firearm-related injury resulting in admission to a trauma center, the adjusted OR of it being assaultive was 2.8 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.6-4.6) if the victim was a girl, 4.9 (95% CI, 3.1-7.8) if the shooting occurred at night, 2.6 (95% CI, 1.6-4.2) if the shooting occurred on a weekday, and 21.1 (95% CI, 9.1-49.4) if the shooting occurred on a road. Injury patterns and severity were similar between patients with unintentional and assaultive injuries. Overall, 19% of the patients sustained head injuries, which contributed to 90% of the in-hospital deaths.
Conclusions
Marked differences in injury circumstances exist between unintentional and assaultive firearmrelated injuries among children. The late afternoon hours when many children have come home from school but their parents may still be working have the highest frequency of unintentional firearm-related injuries. The evening peak of assaultive injuries may be related to drugrelated and gang-related violence. While it is important to reduce the access of firearms to children, schoolbased extracurricular and community-based social services should be considered in developing intervention programs.
Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 1996;150:1160-1165
Author Affiliations
From the Department of Emergency Medicine (Drs Li, Ling, and Kelen), The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, and the Center for Injury Research and Policy (Ms Baker and Dr Fowler), The Johns Hopkins University School of Hygiene and Public Health, Baltimore, Md; and the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (Dr DiScala), Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, Mass.
 CiteULike  Connotea  Delicious  Digg  Facebook  Reddit  Technorati  Twitter
What's this?
THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES
Outcomes in Children and Young Adults Who Are Hospitalized for Firearms-Related Injuries
DiScala and Sege
Pediatrics 2004;113:1306-1312.
ABSTRACT
| FULL TEXT
The Rural-Urban Continuum: Variability in Statewide Serious Firearm Injuries in Children and Adolescents
Nance et al.
Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med 2002;156:781-785.
ABSTRACT
| FULL TEXT
Alcohol and other psychoactive drugs in trauma patients aged 10-14 years
Li et al.
Inj. Prev. 1999;5:94-97.
ABSTRACT
| FULL TEXT
Comparing pediatric intentional injury surveillance data with data from publicly available sources: consequences for a public health response to violence
Stone et al.
Inj. Prev. 1999;5:136-141.
ABSTRACT
| FULL TEXT
|
